Top Verses Profile for Proverbs 22:23  

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. 16 Those who oppress the poor to increase their wealth and those who give gifts to the rich – both come to poverty. 17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, 18 For it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. 19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. 20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge 21 Teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? 22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court 23 For the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life. 24 Do not make friends with the hot-tempered, do not associate with those who are easily angered 25 Or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. 26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts 27 If you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. 28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. 29 Do you see those who are skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. (NIV)

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. 16 He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself and he who gives to the rich--both will surely come to want. 17 Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them. 19 So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you. 20 Have I not written to you [long ago] excellent things in counsels and knowledge 21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? [Luke 1:3, 4.] 22 Rob not the poor [being tempted by their helplessness], neither oppress the afflicted at the gate [where the city court is held], [Exod. 23:6; Job 31:16, 21.] 23 For the Lord will plead their cause and deprive of life those who deprive [the poor or afflicted]. [Zech. 7:10; Mal. 3:5.] 24 Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate 25 Lest you learn his ways and get yourself into a snare. 26 Be not one of those who strike hands and pledge themselves, or of those who become security for another's debts. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you? 28 Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set up. 29 Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. (AMP)

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. 17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? 22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. 26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. 29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. (KJV)